The few times I’d joined my friends at the family’s sizzling dance club in New Orleans, I’d thoroughly enjoyed myself. I’d been proud to highlight the sexiest club in the south. But enjoyment had been short lived.
Especially when Donatello had intervened.
Thinking about the men who’d almost immediately sought me and my friends out on the night in question yanked at my instincts. To learn about the bomb planted in Donatello’s home and that those same men had been murdered certainly indicated a dangerous situation. There were no coincidences in the underground world of dark corruption and control.
Even if the family was mostly legitimate.
Then there was the asshole from speed dating. My instincts had told me the guy had been bad news, yet I’d been so dead set on doing what I wanted, I’d ignored my gut. I could only imagine what would have happened had Donatello not intervened.
But I wasn’t going to admit that to him.
Coming to Rio had seemed like the perfect opportunity to shove aside my tightly woven world for a little while. But with all good things there were consequences to bear. I’d yet to ask but had already wondered whether the surly Italian had contacted my family to let them know I was safe and sound.
Or that he’d be bringing me home in handcuffs soon enough.
The thought was both riveting and annoying. Which held the greater percentage? Well, I would never tell.
As I weaved my way through a throng of garishly dressed people, I continued to try to push aside all thoughts about my real life.It was very difficult to do given I was being shadowed by a burly giant of a man determined to keep me safe.
Casa da Matriz certainly lived up to its name. Very much on the wild side, the music was pumping, the DJ mixing music like the days of old, which I adored. The drinks were potent, the atmosphere electric, and the people all eager and willing to party.
There’d been a street vendor selling detailed, artistic masks, which of course had drawn my attention. I’d purchased a tight little pink dress and the painted mask of fuchsia and violet, covered in rhinestones and pink feathers was a perfect addition.
I could be anyone I wanted to be, uninhibited. The situation was perfect and I was already enjoying the groove.
While I was getting a lot of looks as well as compliments, there was one tiny problem.
Donatello refused to stay a reasonable distance. With a man as tall and muscular as he was, to be dressed in a dark suit with a black shirt while wearing an evil-looking dark mask was highly threatening.
At least he was nursing a drink.
When another guy made a beeline for me, the same thing happened again. This time, I threw out my arm, wagging my finger.
There was no denying every emotion Donatello was experiencing at least tonight. He was pissed anyone was daring to come closer.
At least he backed away, so the air was less suffocating. Sadly, I could tell this was a bad move on my part. He was never going toallow me to enjoy my evening. There was no escaping him, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t go deeper into the club.
I danced away from him, doing my best to ignore his presence, but as with every time Donatello had been in any room, in some sense of proximity, his very presence was oppressive. I had to get him off my mind. He was on duty as he always was and after hearing what happened to him, all the bravado in the world wouldn’t keep me from feeling anxiety.
Not just for him but also for me.
Pushing my way through the crowd, I enjoyed the way men were getting closer. There were several I’d consider extremely handsome. What I’d shared with my bodyguard was true. I craved going on a date, enjoying a night or two of passion. What was wrong with that? The last time I’d even bothered trying had been disastrous, the guy walking out and never wanting to see me again.
Thoughts of the speed date flashed into my mind.
Then there were the naughty images of the sexy Italian from earlier in the day. Wow. The suits he wore, while nicely tailored, had managed to hide his intensely hot physique. Okay, I needed to stop driving myself into a hunger frenzy. That wasn’t going to help with finding someone to spend time with tonight.
On the edge of the dance floor, I couldn’t seem to help myself, glancing toward Donatello. He was there, hiding in the shadows across the room.
Only now he wasn’t alone. There were three girls hovering around him.
I wasn’t prone to acts of jealousy because I’d never needed to worry about any boyfriend being the object of anyone else’s desires. Why? Because I hadn’t had a boyfriend since college. Even then, when my brothers had come to visit, they’d terrified him and he’d broken it off.
I’d been devastated.
So why was I remotely jealous that women were paying Donatello any attention?
Because he was cute. In a big bouncer kind of way.